By AP
DETROIT –
The Michigan Supreme Court's new conservative majority has reversed a major decision that expanded the ability to sue the state in some environmental disputes.
The case involved the discharge of partially contaminated water to a popular trout stream. In December, the court's liberal majority used the case to give more rights to people to challenge state regulators over certain environmental permits.
But in an order released Tuesday, the court's four conservative justices overturned that decision. They said the case was moot and should not have been heard last year because Merit Energy had dropped plans to use the AuSable River.
Experts had predicted such an outcome after the fall election put conservatives back in power on the Supreme Court.